5 Ways To Travel Green – Explore, Eat, Recycle, Repeat!

The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it– Robert Swan

We all have faced it – the ethical dilemma of satisfying our wanderlust at the cost of (possibly) damaging the environment a little bit in the wake. The guilt of it has led a few of us to sleepless nights and dampened vacation spirits. But no more! Following just a few eco-friendly travel practices will nullify the remorse and lead to more green vacay plans.

‘Eco-friendly travel’ or ‘Green Travel’ in itself is a broad concept. It involves not only caring for the environment but also for the people and animals belonging to that particular environment. So, without further ado, here are 5 ways to travel green.

5 ways to practice Sustainable Tourism – how to travel green!

Cycling- the best way to explore a destination!

Ditch Aeroplanes- reduce carbon emissions!

Did you know that aeroplanes emit more carbon than cars, trains and to some extent, even cruises? So, the next time you decide to book a flight, how about you check out other modes of transport to reach your destination? Maybe you can even make a road trip out of the entire vacation. Here are some road trip ideas just for you!

While on the topic of transportation, if your choice of destination is pedestrian friendly, why not pack a pair of comfy shoes and explore the area on foot? You could also opt for bicycle tours. Talk about a healthy vacation for a fitness freak!

Go global, buy local!

Another important factor of eco-friendly travel is ecotourism or sustainable travel. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education.” The simplest way of enforcing this is buying local; right from buying souvenirs from small shop owners to booking your tours via resident tour operators. This sustains the income of the local people, which in turn promotes ecotourism.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

As far as possible, carry a reusable water bottle with you so that you can fill it up and keep using it instead of buying more plastic mineral water bottles. Seems like a small step towards preserving the environment, but hey, every step counts! Because, on an average, one single person consumes approximately 10 to 14 water bottles on a 3-day trip.

They are eager to learn… Will you be their teacher?

Open your hearts and minds!

How about making a memorable volunteering holiday out of your trip? Instead of going sightseeing, you could sign up for volunteering opportunities and make a difference on your next vacation. You could go on a tree plantation spree on the beautiful Galapagos Islands or teach a language to the chirpy little kids in a school in Ghana or work with rescued, orphaned and endangered animals in Australia. The world will be your oyster, once you open your heart to the local people and environment.

Windmills at Windpark Parndorf, Austria

Environment friendly destinations FTW!

Did you know that countries like Switzerland, Slovenia, Finland, Chile, France, Denmark, Singapore, Austria and Ireland feature at the top of the list of most environment-friendly countries in the world? In fact, Chile is leading the way in sustainable adventure tourism. How about you pack your bags and leave for these destinations? Not just because these countries will be neat and clean but also because these countries make conscious efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. Right from promoting eco-friendly hotels to ensuring their trash is recycled to using renewable energy to even fighting against ocean pollution, these countries ensure that the future is left as it should be – bright and full of hope!